Title: An Introduction to African Languages
Publication Year: 2004
Publisher: John Benjamins
http://www.benjamins.com/http://www.benjamins.nl
Book URL: http://www.benjamins.nl/cgi-bin/t_bookview.cgi?bookid=Z_121
Author: G. Tucker Childs, Portland State University
Hardback: ISBN: 158811421X, Pages: xx, 265 pp., Price: USD 150.00
Hardback: ISBN: 9027226059, Pages: xx, 265 pp., Price: EUR 125.00
Paperback: ISBN: 1588114228, Pages: xx, 265 pp., Price: USD 59.95
Paperback: ISBN: 9027226067, Pages: xx, 265 pp., Price: EUR 50.00
Abstract:
This book introduces beginning students and non-specialists to the
diversity and richness of African languages. In addition to providing
a solid background to the study of African languages, the book
presents linguistic phenomena not found in European languages. A goal
of this book is to stimulate interest in African languages and address
the question: What makes African languages so fascinating? The
orientation adopted throughout the book is a descriptive one, which
seeks to characterize African languages in a relatively succinct and
neutral manner, and to make the facts accessible to a wide variety of
readers. The author�Euro(tm)s lengthy acquaintance with the continent
and field experiences in western, eastern, and southern Africa allow
for both a broad perspective and considerable depth in selected
areas. The original examples are often the author�Euro(tm)s own but
also come from other sources and languages not often referenced in the
literature. This text also includes a set of sound files illustrating
the phenomena under discussion, be they the clicks of Khoisan, talking
drums, or the ideophones (words like English lickety-split) found
almost everywhere, which will make this book a valuable resource for
teacher and student alike.
Table of contents
Acknowledgements and dedication vii
Preface ix
Abbreviations xiii
List of Maps xv
List of Figures xvii
List of Tables xix
1. Introduction 1-18
2. The classification of African languages 19-53
3. Phonetics and phonology 55-95
4. Morphology 97-115
5. Syntax and semantics 117-151
6. Historical and typological issues 153-174
7. Social effects on the languages of Africa 175-216
Appendices 217-221
References 223-260
Index 261-265
Lingfield(s): Linguistic Theories
Written In: English (Language Code: ENG)
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http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=8695.